negatively

Etymology

negative + -ly

adv

1. In a negative manner; so as to be damaging or not positive.
   How justly then might human law and Philosophy rise up against the righteousnesse of Moses, if this be true which our vulgar Divinity Fathers upon him, yeah upon God himselfe; not silently and only negatively to permit, but in his law to divulge a written and generall priviledge to commit and persist in unlawfull divorces with a high hand, with security and no ill fame […] 1644, John Milton, chapter 3, in The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce, London, page 38
   1722, Daniel Defoe, Moll Flanders, London: J. Cooke, 1765, p. 17, At last one of them asked me what a Gentlewoman was? that puzzled me much; but however, I explained myself negatively; that it was one that did not go to Service to do Housework […]
   Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively, by uniting our affections; the latter negatively, by restraining our vices. 1776, Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 6th edition, Philadelphia, page 5
   Allow me to introduce myself—first, negatively. ¶ No landlord is my friend and brother, no chambermaid loves me, no waiter worships me, no boots admires and envies me. 1859, Charles Dickens, chapter 1, in The Uncommercial Traveller, London: Chapman & Hall, published 1905, page 1
   Having the entire summer off from school negatively affects learning. 2 June 1997, John E. Chubb, “Too much of a good thing”, in Time
   Tynesiders appear to be proud of their accents, according to the findings, but Brummies responded negatively to hearing their vowels on TV and radio, partly because they recognise they are ridiculed for them by some of their compatriots. 13 May 2009, Mark Sweney, James Robinson, “Not all regions like to hear their own accents in ads, survey finds”, in The Guardian
2. (responding to a question, proposal, vote, etc.) In the negative; with the answer “no.”
   1683, Richard Browne (translator), The Cure of Old Age and Preservation of Youth by Roger Bacon, London: Tho. Flesher, Doubt VII, p. 83, I answer negatively:
   Twelve States now in the affirmative column at one time or another in the past voted negatively. 8 April 1935, “Season’s End”, in Time
   1983, Reuters, “Iran rebuffs Iraq on sparing civilians,” New York Times, 27 May, 1983, Iran responded negatively today to a proposal by Iraq that the two countries agree to stop shelling each other’s towns and villages.